WHEN Kelly Morgan looks back over the last 12 months it must be hard for the boxer not to find herself sitting in a padded cell rocking back and forth with a straight jacket on.

The WBC Silver middleweight champion has experienced some of her lowest lows this year as well as being on the verge of achieving her dream in what she calls a ‘very septic environment.’

And while the former sergeant of the Royal Army Physical Corp says that she felt mentally safer out on the front-line, the 36-year-old has no regrets about stepping into the prize-fighting world.

“I had no idea (what it would be like), I was literally blind (about the world of professional boxing),” said Morgan, who is trained and now managed by Richard Farnan.

“In truth it is a very septic environment to survive in, but I don’t regret it.

“At the end of the day I have a chance to chase my dream - I wouldn’t give that up for all the money in China.

“I was much more content and safe in the middle of Afghanistan than I am now.

“(I was) safer and more content, mentally, physically and spiritually in the middle of Afghanistan than I am right now going through this turmoil.

“But that said, as long as we pull through and get through to that ultimate goal it will be worth it.”

Despite the rollercoaster of emotions that the former British javelin record holder, Morgan broke Fatima Whitbread’s 10-year-old standard with a throw of 64.87m, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist is working hard to make sure that she does not fall over the edge.

While some people turn their noses up at professional psychological assistance, the former England netball international is embracing it.

“I come from GB athletics and that was part and parcel of everything that we did,” she said.

“For me, our brains tell our bodies what to do, so it is an absolute given the positive of that.

“It is not about counselling sessions, it is about actual skills, visualisation, mind-set, proper stuff.

“I love it. I find it fascinating on a personal level, also I see the cross over to performance.

“The sport is beautiful, but the reality is of the game it is very harsh and it is difficult to survive.

“So I’m doing a lot of work with sports psych with Dave Walcot up at UWE, who is absolutely brilliant, we are working on processes and how to adjust mind sets when the goalposts keep moving.

“To be honest it (sports psychology) is becoming more and more valuable.

“The constant disappointments chips away (at you) more and more.

“To be able to hold that together and use that to good effect is a skill in itself.”

As Morgan’s focus remains on WBC super-middleweight world champion Nikki Adler, a fight in February has been mooted, she still has plenty to be cheerful about over the last 12 months.

While she has seen two shows and two fights postponed, the Swindon boxer is immensely proud of what she has achieved this year as she lifted the WBC Silver middleweight belt following her win over Lisa Cielas in June.

“I love boxing, I did athletics because I was talented at it, but it didn’t light me up inside,” Morgan added.

“But that said, the successes were a phenomenal feeling, like anything in life, it was amazing.

“To break that British record (of Fatima Whitbread) was amazing, that was a fantastic moment for me.

“But I feel I’m in the right sport now, it is a huge stepping stone (winning the Silver title), it has given me that open door to step through to ultimately become a champion of the world in something sport related.”